Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Turkey Set to Open First African Military Base in Somalia

10/02/2016

Turkey is about to finish the construction of its first African military base in Somalia's capital of Mogadishu, media reported Saturday. The base, at which Ankara will train about 10,000 Somalian soldiers in compliance with the bilateral security cooperation agreement, is being built with the United Nations' approval, the Garowe Online news agency reported. Some 200 Turkish military specialists will arrive to the country soon to provide training, the media outlet said, citing its sources.

Russia Opposes Prospects of US Supplying Syria Opposition With MANPADS

10/02/2016

Any attempts by Washington to supply the Syrian opposition with man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) would be absolutely counterproductive, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said.

European MALE definition study phase begins

09/30/2016

A definition study phase for the future European medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned air vehicle development has begun, paving the way for an operational sovereign system to enter use by 2025.

Kenya to receive five Huey II helicopters

09/30/2016

Kenya is to acquire five remanufactured Bell Helicopter Huey II rotorcraft in a deal worth $52.2 million. Awarded on 26 September, the contract also includes spare parts, training and programme management.

Beijing Warns Tokyo: 'China’s Military Will Not Sit Idly By' in South China Sea

09/30/2016

Tensions have escalated between China and Japan over a territorial dispute in the East China Sea, where both nations claim ownership over a string of islands called the Senkakus. But Japan is also in talks with the Pentagon to join military patrols in the South China Sea, a move Beijing warned against on Thursday.

Russian Aerospace Force’s Operation in Syria in Details

09/30/2016

Russia began its military operation in Syria a year ago, on September 30, 2015, following a request of assistance from Syrian President Bashar Assad.

White House OKs Fighter Jet Sale to Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait

09/30/2016

The deal paves the way for the three Middle Eastern countries to receive F-15E Strike Eagles, F/A-18 Super Hornets, and F-16 fighters. Kuwait and Qatar requested the sale of the fighters two years ago, and while the US Congress approved of the deal, the White House has been dragging its feet.

Mixed Prospects for Boeing Military Aircraft

09/29/2016

The future sales prospects for Boeing’s military aircraft are mixed at present. The F-15 and F-18 production lines now seem more likely to extend into the next decade with more sales to the Middle East, now that political objections in Tel Aviv and Washington appear to be subsiding. A sale of four KC-46 tankers to Japan has now been formally notified, but some U.S. Air Force (USAF) leadership has suggested that the service will buy no more than the 179 aircraft to which it is already committed.

China is worried its fighter pilots are dumb

09/29/2016

China has the third largest air force in the world and may surpass the United States within the next 15 years. But in an aerial shooting war with the U.S. Air Force, Beijing will need more than aircraft — also fighter pilots with well-honed skills capable of facing off with some of the best jocks in the world.

Rafale fighter jet deal to be sealed with France on Friday

09/29/2016

While New Delhi made a decision to buy 126 Rafale fighter jets in 2012, it later scaled down its initial plans to acquire only 36, apparently because the jets were too expensive. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar signed an agreement with French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Friday to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation SA that will give India an edge over Pakistan.

The 5 Best Submarines, 5 Best Bombers and 5 Worst Fighter Aircraft of All Time

09/29/2016

History is filled with examples of pieces of military equipment that performed miracles on the battlefield-and others that cost many military professionals their lives. Indeed, wars can be shaped by the 'kit' that you bring to the fight. In fact, not only having better arms but men and women properly trained to win the battle of the day with such weapons is critical-as you may even be able to deter your opponent from wanting to take the field against you.

Investigators say MH17 downed by missile brought in from Russia

09/29/2016

A Dutch-led criminal investigation into the loss of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014 has said the aircraft was downed by a missile brought in from Russia and fired from territory held by Moscow-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Tejas-SP3 completes maiden flight

09/29/2016

The third series production Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas-SP3, on Wednesday took to the skies for the first time in a successful 15-minute sortie. Sources in HAL told TOI that the first profiling of the aircraft was satisfactory and that most parameters that were to be checked were fulfilled. "The flight was restricted to only 15 minutes because of the low-hanging clouds, the initial plan was to fly for longer," a source in the LCA complex said.

Lockheed Martin’s Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod Continues Platform Expansion with Eurofighter Typhoon

09/29/2016

Lockheed Martin has received a direct commercial sale contract for the integration of Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP) onto the Eurofighter Typhoon swing-role fighter. The contract, signed with Eurofighter partner company Leonardo Aircraft, includes 18 pods, integration and logistics support for the Kuwait Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoon. The Eurofighter Typhoon is the ninth aircraft platform to be equipped with Sniper ATP.

Marine Corps demonstrates communications pod on Reaper

09/29/2016

The US Marine Corps tested its own expeditionary UAV in July, when General Atomics equipped an MQ-9 Reaper with a network-centric communications pod (NCCP) to enable communications between the UAS and Marine ground forces.

IAI to offer Brazilian production of Heron 1

09/29/2016

IAI and its Brazilian partner Avionics Services are gearing up for the competition, and have completed definition work for the so-called Category 4 UAV. After long delays to the process, the air force is expected to issue a tender for the requirement early next year.

PAKISTAN LOOKS TO MAKE INROADS IN AZERI DEFENCE MARKET

09/28/2016

Pakistan’s Minister of Defence Production (MoDP), Rana Tanveer Hussain, and representatives from Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) are attending the Azerbaijan International Defence Industry Exhibition (ADEX 2016), which is taking place from 27 to 30 September. MoDP Hussain had also met with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, and the two sides have reportedly agreed to enhance bilateral ties, especially in defence and defence production.

China Wants to Launch Carrier Fighters Just Like the U.S. Navy

09/28/2016

For nearly sixty years, U.S. Navy fighters have launched from aircraft carrier decks with steam-powered catapults. These catapults were created for carriers because they can safely accelerate large aircraft with big payloads. Catapult-Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) operations soon became the norm for the U.S. Navy and a handful of its allies.

Romania to accept first used F-16s from Portugal

09/28/2016

The aircraft – which already bear the Romanian service's tricolour roundel – are the first batch from a 12-aircraft deal with the Portugese government signed in 2013. “Although I hesitate to use big words when talking about acquisitions,” defence minister Mihnea Motoc writes on his Facebook page, “I have to say that tomorrow will be a truly historic day for Romania and its army.”

Lockheed Martin to Deliver New Simulation-Based F-16 Training Environment to Royal Jordanian Air Force

09/28/2016

Lockheed Martin will deliver a new simulation-based F-16 training environment for the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) under a contract valued at nearly $40 million. The family of training systems includes a comprehensive suite of full mission trainers and combat tactics trainers that can be networked together, aligning technologies to deliver advanced training while meeting affordability goals.

Gap, Narrowing: Russia, China to Challenge West's Air Supremacy

09/28/2016

Western hawks are beating their war drums over the growing military capabilities of Russia and China, fearing the countries could challenge the West's air supremacy. Western military analysts are raising the alarm over the fact that Russia and China are enhancing their air power and fielding more sophisticated antiaircraft systems.

Russian MoD Refutes Claim of Russian Bombers' Flight Close to Civilian Plane

09/28/2016

The Russian Defense Ministry refuted Iceland's claim that Russian strategic bombers flew dangerously close to civilian aircraft over the Norwegian Sea.

IAF test-fires MICA multi-mission air-to-air missile

09/27/2016

The Indian Air Force's (IAF) Tiger Squadron has successfully test-fired the recently acquired long range air-to-air MICA missile. During the test, the missile was fired from Mirage-2000 Upgrade combat aircraft to engage a manoeuvring target.

JSTARS flying again following radar mishap

09/27/2016

The USAF assembled an independent investigation of four aircraft recently delivered from depot maintenance at Northrop Grumman's facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana. One aircraft experienced water damage to the Northrop APY-7 radar after the glassfibre canoe did not properly drain water.

Lockheed Martin and Boeing score contracts for unmanned Navy tanker

09/27/2016

A four-way competition to build the US Navy's next carrier-based unmanned air system (UAS) expect to begin revising year-old, preliminary designs that were submitted before the mission changed.